With new national staff, FIDF maintains Israeli soldiers’ morale in precarious times

3/5/2015

Israel’s tumultuous summer and fall tested the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on many fronts, as a 50-day conflict with Hamas was followed by increased Palestinian terrorism in Jerusalem and elsewhere. Yet despite the strain of war, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir (Klifi), the recently appointed national executive director of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) not-for-profit organization, maintains that IDF morale is high. “The IDF has the best morale that you can have in any army all over the world because our soldiers understand that [Israel] is the only country we (Jews) have to protect,” Klifi tells JNS.org in his first interview since assuming the FIDF position three months ago.But how does that morale stay high? FIDF does its part by contributing to the army’s enduring spirit, raising funds from a vast network of international donors to support programming that enhances soldiers’ wellbeing. READ MORE

Lone Soldiers receive Chanukah gift cards

3/2/2015

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), in collaboration with the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers (AWIS), provided “Fellowship Gift Cards” to over 9,000 soldiers in-need and Lone Soldiers currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) so they can celebrate the Chanukah holiday season without financial worries.

The gift cards (each worth between NIS 400-1,000) are redeemable at major retail chains in Israel for purchasing basic supplies such as food, clothing and shoes. Among the soldiers who received this financial support were over 2,500 Lone Soldiers — young men and women who choose to leave their countries of origin to immigrate to Israel and serve in the IDF. Lone Soldiers come to Israel from across the Diaspora to join in Israel’s defense and become part of Israel’s melting pot.

Over the past seven years (2008-2014), FIDF and The Fellowship have provided almost $18 million in financial support to soldiers from low-income families.

The Fellowship and FIDF distribute “Fellowship Gift Cards” three times a year, during the major Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, and Passover. This campaign is administered in collaboration with the IDF Personnel Directorate and reaches every eligible IDF soldier.

Dr. Robert and Barbara Cohen of Englewood met plenty of top-brass VIPs on their recent visit to Israel with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces National Leadership Mission — President Reuven Rivlin and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz among them.

But what stands out in Dr. Cohen’s mind are the regular soldiers in uniform.

“I was so impressed by the goodness of the individuals I met, the young soldiers and their commanding officers,” Dr. Cohen, an obstetrician/gynecologist, said. “These young people, right out of high school, are giving up two or three years of their lives for Israel. And they all, to the man or woman, told us they consider it an honor to preserve and protect Israel for the Jewish people.”READ MORE

A thousand released IDF soldiers celebrate Hanukkah with Holocaust survivors

2/4/2015

More than a thousand released IDF soldiers visited the homes of about 500 Holocaust Survivors in Israel to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with them as part of a broader initiative by the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims and the Impact scholarship program funded by the Friends of the IDF organization. About a dozen released IDF soldiers arrived at the Gil Oz retirement home in Petah Tikva to light the first candle with holocaust survivors. READ MORE

Meeting the Troops - Englewood couple joins Friends of the IDF Mission to

12/20/2014

Dr. Robert and Barbara Cohen of Englewood met plenty of top-brass VIPs on their recent visit to Israel with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces National Leadership Mission — President Reuven Rivlin and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz among them.

But what stands out in Dr. Cohen’s mind are the regular soldiers in uniform.

“I was so impressed by the goodness of the individuals I met, the young soldiers and their commanding officers,” Dr. Cohen, an obstetrician/gynecologist, said. “These young people, right out of high school, are giving up two or three years of their lives for Israel. And they all, to the man or woman, told us they consider it an honor to preserve and protect Israel for the Jewish people.”

More than 1,550 prominent young professionals and supporters of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) from across New York raised more than $500,000 for the IDF’s Iron Trails Brigade during the New York Young Leadership (YL-NY) Division’s 12th Annual Gala Saturday night at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan.

More than 1,550 prominent young professionals and supporters of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) from across New York raised more than $500,000 for the IDF’s Iron Trails Brigade during the New York Young Leadership (YL-NY) Division’s 12th Annual Gala Saturday night at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan.

The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) kicked off a fundraiser in Hollywood Thursday evening to honor Israeli soldiers and the Israeli defense establishment.Haim Saban, the man behind the event, announced that the event raised a record $33.5 million for the IDF.

Amid instability in Israel, FIDF galas across U.S. raise funds for soldiers’ wellbeing

11/13/2014

At a time when Israel faces an increasingly unstable security situation—including recent vehicular attacks on Jerusalem’s light rail stations, stabbings, tension at the Temple Mount, and Arab riots—Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is raising money at record-high levels for programs that enhance the wellbeing of those protecting the Jewish state.

Beverly Hills real estate magnate Stanley Black and Temple of the Arts Rabbi David Baron were honored on Oct. 12 during “A Fabulous Night” at the Saban Theatre.

The event featured comedian Rita Rudner and Beatles tribute band The Fab Four in concert while also spotlighting the contributions of entertainment mogul Haim Saban, after whom the venue is named. Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse presented Saban and his author-wife, Cheryl, with a plaque that acknowledged the theater’s designation as a historic landmark - READ MORE

Lone Soldiers’ mom alternates between pride and worry

10/22/2014

SAN DIEGO – Karen Schuster remembers when her son, Ari Friedman, now 23, told her he was moving to Israel to become a combat medic with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was 2012, and he was a student at UC Irvine, where he had been a leader among the Jewish student population during his two years on campus. But his heart belonged to Israel, where he had spent a gap year after high school participating in a Young Judea program. He wanted to stay, but Schuster had pleaded with him to come home and get his degree first. Ari reluctantly agreed. “I didn’t know how much time I had, but that’s when I knew he was going to go back to Israel and make Aliyah and he was going to fight,” Schuster said. - READ MORE

Grapevine: The celebrations are in full swing

10/9/2014

For JEerusalemites,the festive period is not yet over – thanks to the Japanese Embassy, which in cooperation with the Jerusalem Municipality, the Israel Center for the Advancement of Culture and Knowledge, the Foreign Ministry and the First Station, is hosting a Japanese Culture Festival from Sunday, October 19 to Saturday, October 25, with free entrance. - READ MORE

With Israeli Basketball Legends In Brooklyn, Friends Of The IDF Pays Tribute To Wounded Soldiers

10/8/2014

Friends of the IDF (FIDF) host a VIP reception before the Brooklyn Nets’ first pre-season game to support programs for Israeli soldiers and families from the South of Israel. Oct. 8, Brooklyn – Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), Maccabi USA, Maccabi World Union, and Maccabi Tel-Aviv hosted a VIP reception Monday before the Brooklyn Nets took on the Israeli and European hoops champions Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Nets’ first pre-season game. - READ MORE

FIDF event celebrates sports, patriotism, Cleveland-Israel bond

10/5/2014

Sports and patriotism came together in striking fashion the morning of Oct. 5 when the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces hosted a reception and fundraiser in a large banquet room at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland.

The event, which drew some 220 people willing to pledge $1,880 to $50,000 per seat, took place hours before the Cleveland Cavaliers played Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv at the Q that Sunday night. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland and the Cleveland Jewish News presented the Jewish Community Night game, the debut of David Blatt as the Cavaliers’ head coach - READ MORE